Maui Dolphin Sighted.

First healthy Maui Dolphin been sighted of the Taranaki coast in twenty years might be a common sight in our waters in the future. As it was back in the 50s 60s and 70s. Not because of the governments threat Management Plans or for the demise of local commercial fisherman. But because our Taranaki marine waters are now a lot less polluted. The Maui Dolphin disappeared from our waters at the height of the former Ivon Watkins Dow Chemical Plant now AgroSciences at Paritutu disposing at the time of its chemical waste unchecked out onto back beach and through our cities sewers out onto the Taranaki coastline, the Maui Dolphins former marine habitat and breeding grounds. New studies now show that most New Zealand human cancers had also developed greatly in the same high chemical exposure period some 30 to 40 years ago. Not only from chemical waste, but from the raw product the chemicals themselves that were sprayed and used the length and breath of the whole country. We have learn't nothing though. The country is about to embark on yet another environmental disaster in Taranaki, Sand Mining the Taranaki coastline. The Maui Dolphin will have little chance of recovery along with many other Taranaki coastal marine species Sand Mining of the Taranaki coast will inevitably make them all extinct.

Rusty Kane
New Plymouth

Maui's Dolphin

Agenda Set.
I have read with great interest the debate over the governments proposed Threat Management Plan to protect the extremely rare Maui's Dolphin. By proposing to ban all set-net fishing around the Taranaki coast. Based on misinformation from strong lobby groups that Maui's Dolphin's habitat is also around the Taranaki coast, when it is obviously not. The result of doing so would have dire consequence on our already endangered spices the Taranaki local commercial fisherman. Who have fished these waters all their lives, and have not in that time came across seen or caught in their nets a Maui's Dolphin, other than one found in the stomach of a visiting caught Great White shark. This leads me to believe that this ill-conceived plan is about politics's and not fact. That the agenda is already set in place, and the so called consultation and submission process just a formality, as they are with the NPDC. The views of those involved the few Taranaki Fisherman sweeped aside for a already in place overriding central political agenda. That is why the two local party MPs won't get drawn into this issue. Because it may damage their and their parties standing, so close to an a election. This is why we need an independent MP that stands up for the region's local concerns and businesses, and is not influenced by national political agenda's and party politics's.

Rusty Kane NZ